Fifty-four years after Founder-Acarya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada incorporated the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York City on July 13^th, 1966, the society’s GBC Strategic Planning Team is set to host a six-day series of Facebook Live events celebrating ISKCON Incorporation Day from July 10^th to 15^th. 

The theme of the events, produced by the SPT members under the guidance of chairperson Gopal Bhatta Das, will be “Reaffirming the Seven Purposes of ISKCON.”

“Considering the new normal of online preaching formats that transcend geographical boundaries during the COVID-19 pandemic, the GBC SPT considers this an opportunity for everyone to come together through social media and focus on the importance of this movement and its fundamental strategic purposes, laid down by our Founder-Acarya,” says coordinator Aradhya Bhagavan Das.

Throughout the six days, a series of lectures, interviews and panel discussions will be held, with one or more each discussing one particular Purpose out of the Seven Purposes of ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada imparted in ISKCON’s incorporating document. 

Each talk, by some of ISKCON’s most illustrious speakers, will last one to one-and-a-half hours, and will be broadcast live on the GBC SPT’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gbcspt/ as well as on its Youtube page at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtt2mRZ6jRIUJHNGqkoOyBg. Events will also be recorded so that viewers can watch them on their own time later.

The series will begin on Friday July 10^th with a very special “Introduction to Incorporation Day” panel discussion amongst senior members of the GBC Strategic Planning Team such as Gopal Bhatta Das, Pancharatna Das, Kaunteya Das and Vraja Vihari Das, discussing ISKCON as an organization. 

On Saturday July 11^th, at 7:30am US Eastern Time, Bhakti Vijnana Goswami will speak on Purpose 1 of ISKCON: “To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.”

At 9:30am, second generation kirtaniyas Radhika Ranjan, Manu Magnin and Ananda Monet will speak on Purpose 4: “To teach and encourage the Sankirtan movement of congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.”

On Sunday July 12^th at 9:30am and 12pm respectively, Radhanath Swami and Giriraja Swami will speak on Purpose 3: “To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and thus to develop the idea, within the members, and humanity, at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).”

On Monday July 13^th at 7:30am, Lokanath Swami will also speak on Purpose 4 about the Sankirtan Movement, while at 9am, Narayani Devi Dasi will speak on Purpose 2: “To propagate a consciousness of Krishna as it is revealed in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.” Later, at 11am, Jayapataka Swami will speak on Purpose 5: “To erect for the members, and for society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.”

On Tuesday July 14^th, the date ISKCON Incorporation Day falls on this year, at 8am, Tapana Mishra Das will speak more on Purpose 1, regarding systematic propagation of spiritual knowledge; while at 9:30am, Temple of the Vedic Planetarium chairman Ambarish Das and his wife Svaha Dasi will talk more about Purpose 5, erecting holy places. 

Rounding out Tuesday at 6pm, Global Duty Officer for book distribution Vaisesika Das will discuss Purpose 7: “With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.”

On Wednesday July 15^th at 11am, Sivarama Swami, who established and inspires the 650-acre Krishna Valley community in Hungary, will speak on Purpose 6, explaining how “To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.” Finally, at 7:30pm, Jagattarini Devi Dasi will speak further on Purpose 5 regarding holy places.

The GBC Strategic Planning Team extend a warm invite worldwide for the talks, saying, “Everyone who considers herself or himself a part of ISKCON, or anyone who is interested in ISKCON, is most welcome.”

The ISKCON Incorporation Day series is a special, not-to-be-missed offering. “As the theme suggests, it’s a reaffirmation of the very purposes of ISKCON’s existence,” says Strategic Planning Team member Kaunteya Das. “We have so many Bhagavatam classes, seminars and courses in ISKCON. But there have been very few structured systematic presentations on the Seven Purposes, which are central to our movement’s very existence.”

With excitement building for the event, he concludes, “We request devotees across the world to visit our page and watch the videos live if their timezone allows it, or otherwise to watch the recordings.” 

What’s certain is that it will be an edifying and inspiring experience. 

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Watch ISKCON Incorporation Day events live or recorded from July 10^th to 15th at www.facebook.com/gbcspt/, or at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtt2mRZ6jRIUJHNGqkoOyBg